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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 35:5

Verse 5 He says, that he set wine before them and requested them to drink when full cups were placed before them. Then he adds that they refused, We will not drink wine, because Jonadab our father commanded us, saying, Drink ye no wine, nor build houses, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyards, nor have any such thing as your own We see that four things were commanded the Rechabites by their father, to drink no wine, to cultivate no fields, and to plant no vineyards, — these were three; and the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 35:8

Verse 8 Jeremiah explains at large what might have been expressed in few words, in order to amplify the constancy of the Rechabites. For one may obey his father, and yet be not so fixed in his purpose, but that he might on some slight occasion fail in his duty. Jeremiah here shews that such was the prompt perseverance of the Rechabites, that they could not be enticed by having wine set before them; but that as though no temptation had been presented to them, they kept the commandment of their... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 35:9

Verse 9 They added, that they were not to build houses, literally, to inhabit them, that is, to dwell in them. It was then lawful for the Rechabites to construct houses, that is, to build them for others; but they were to be contented with tents, and to live in them. They might then assist others in building splendid palaces, and thus by their labor gain a livelihood; but they were not allowed to inhabit them, as this was one of their precepts. They farther added, And a vineyard and a field and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 35:1-6

Termination by Divine command. I. SO FAR AS IT WENT IT WAS REAL . The scene and the circumstances of authority and religious sanction given to the invitation were calculated to influence the mind. The "pots full of wine" were also an appeal to the eye. God has tried his servants often, but with no intention of making them fall. He tried Job, Abraham, David, etc. He often does this by his providence, the withholding of his grace, etc. II. IT WAS DONE WITH THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 35:1-11

The Rechabites. A curious interest attaches to these singular people, whose relation to the settled life of the Jews may be compared to that of the gipsies in modern Europe. They were nomads in the midst of cities, preserving the habits of the desert among all the scenes of civilization. But they were in some respects strikingly superior to their more civilized neighbours—a people whose simplicity and abstemiousness was a living rebuke to the debased luxury of the times. Three leading... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 35:1-11

The power of a fathers command. The Rechabite habit is, of course, brought forward here to contrast obedience to an earthly and arbitrary demand with the disobedience of Israel to heavenly and essentially righteous laws. But it is worth while to look into this Rechabite habit altogether, in its origin, its causes, its results, its power. I. THE ORIGIN OF THIS HABIT . The only information we have here is that the habit originated in a command of Jonadab. But, of course,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 35:5

Pots full of wine; rather, bowls, large round vessels ( crateres ) , out of which the drinking cups were filled. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 35:5-6

Fathers of temperance "Intertwined with the history of Israel is that of a wild and independent tribe of Kenites. When the western Israelites abandoned the roving Arab life to settle in the cities of Canaan, the Kenites still retained their pastoral habits. One of the characteristics which we trace in their history was a fierce resentment against oppression and idolatry. It was a Kenite woman, Jael, who smote Sisera, even in her own tent. It was a Kenite sheik, Jonadab, the son of Rechab,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 35:6

Jonadab the son of Rechab our father. Jonadab (the contemporary of King John) is here called the "father" of the Rechabites (comp. Jeremiah 35:14 , Jeremiah 35:16 ), in the same sense in which the disciples of the prophets are called the "sons of the prophets;" he was a teacher, if not (in some sense) a prophet. This illustrates the uncompromising zeal of Jonadab in 2 Kings 10:23 ; the religion of Baal was probably at the opposite pole in the matter of luxury to that of Jehovah as... read more

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